Surgical catgut thread



a tested Dec. 8, 1925.

u N l-T an S'IFA res No Drawing.

. vented certain new and usefulImprovements in Surgical Catgut Threads, or which thefollowingis a description.

This invention relates tosurgical catgut thread and has for its primary object to provide an improved catgut thread for. use in surgical operations which is dyed with a fast non-poisonous, non-irritating dye to a dark color so that it may be easily distinguished from the normal tissues or organs and'will stand out. prominentlyv as an indication to the surgeon whether or not the suture is regular according to established requirements and otherwise perfect.

. The present invention also has for an object to provide an improved method of preparing catgut for surgical use by means of which the catgut may be rendered sterile Without impairing its resiliency as is the case when the catgnt 1s sterilized at very high temperatures or by the use of chemicals, as

heretofore employed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved surgical catgut thread, and in the method of preparing the same as will now be more fully described in detail and subsequently in corporated in the subjoined claims.

As is well known, surgical catgut thread as used at the present time, is of substantially the same color as the flesh tissues. In preparing catgut in accordance with the present invention, I take such a thread and first dye the same to a relatively dark color by means of a suitable fast non-poisonous and non-irritating dye. Numerous examples of such a dye are now known to the art and any selection might be made therefrom at the option of the manufacturer.

The dyed catgut thread may now be completely sterilized by subjecting the same to a temperature of between 80 and 90 C. for a period of from eight to ten days in alcohol or chloroform, preferably alcohol. Other liquids may be found equally satisfactory. but in practice I have found that alcohol gives satisfactoryresults. No higher temperature than 90 C. is necessarv in order to effect the sterilization of the dyed catgut. It has been found in practice that ordinary snnsro'An oAreUrJ THREAD.

Applicationfiled.November 15, 192.1. seriai'no; 1515,3391

sterilizing temperatures which are relatively lngh, impair the res llency of. the catgut; T hesan'ie-is-true when chemicals are used to effectsterilization; However. asI have I 1 found'that effective sterilization of the dyed catgut. can be. obtained at the relatively lowtemperatures above stated, suchimpairment inv resiliency is entirely obviated. In] the sterilization,treatment: itis' important that the'bacterialispores'of tetanus be destroyed or rendered incapable ofactivity; This destruction or. .devitalization of' the spores is securediby' means ofthe'treatment just referred to. I Such spores areexceedingly resistant and specialcaremust be observed in the sterilization-process. to assure theirdestruction." Tests w'ellknown to the art can be carried out after sterilizing the catgut to determine whether or not there exists any evidence of activity of such spores.

In the use of the ordinary undyed oatgut, the surgeon is unable to determine whether the suture has been correctly made owing to the fact that the color of the catgut and of the normal tissues or organs is substantially the same, and there is no way of distiguishing at a glance between the catgut and the tissues, so that if a stitch or end of the catgut thread is lost, it is diflicult to find it. My improved dyed and sterilized catgut is used by the surgeon in the same manner as the ordinary catgut,'but owing to its dark color, he is enabled to immediately. distinguish between the catgut and the tissues or organs and thus determine at a glance whether or not the suture is perfect.

I have described an embodiment of the invention wherein the catgut thread is first dyed and then sterilized but I have also found that the dyeingand sterilization of the catgut thread can be carried out simultaneously by mixing the dye in the sterilization liquid and then proceeding as before described. Commercially, this may be the better procedure. -The dyed and sterilized catgut can then be either chilled and hermetically sealed in packages to guard against infection,.or it may be kept in a sterilizing liquid until required for use.

From the foregoing description, the 'na-. ture of my present invention and its material advantages in practical use will be readily appreciated. In so far as I am aware, I am the first in the art to provide an artificially colored or dyed catgut for surgical use ANGELO L.. sonnet.v on NEW roan-,- N; Y.

and in which the original resiliency of the catgut is retained after sterilization. It is also my original invention to provide a dyed and sterilized catgut thread in condition for immediate use without further treatment. It will, therefore, be understood that while I have disclosed one manner of preparing the improved surgical catgut, certain variations from the described procedure may be possible Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim r 1. The method of preparing catgut for surgical use which consists in artificially coloring the catgut to a relatively dark color by means of a fast, non-poisonous, non-irritating dye, and then sterilizing the dyed catgut by subjecting the same to a temperature of less than 90 C. so that the sterilized and dyed catgut will retain its natural resiliency undiminished.

2. The method of preparing catgut for surgical use which consists in artificially coloring catgut to a relatively dark color by means of a fast, non-poisonous, non-irritating dye and sub ect1ng the same to a temperature below 90 C. wh le immersed 1n a sterilizing solution for a period of from eight to ten days. I

3. The method of preparing catgut for surgical use which consists in artificially coloring the catgut to a relatively dark color by immersion in a dyeing solution containing a sterilizing agent and permitting the catgut to remain in the solution for a period of from eight to ten days while maintain ing the solution at a temperature of less catgut from said solution, and hermetically sealing the same in packages. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my lnvention, I have signed my name hereunder.

ANGELO L. soREsr 

